The Indian Air Force successfully test-fired air-to-air missile Astra from Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets on Tuesday. The Astra missile has been developed by DRDO.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter successfully test-fired the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) Astra on Tuesday. The Astra missile can move towards its target at a speed of over 5,555 kilometres per hour (4.5 Mach) with a 15-kilogramme high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead. The missile was test-fired under the guidance of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) off the coast of Odisha.
“The live aerial target was engaged accurately demonstrating the capability of first indigenous air-to-air missile. The mission profile was executed in a textbook manner,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement. “Various Radars, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and Sensors tracked the missile and confirmed its engagement with target. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and Air Force teams for the successful test,” the statement further read.
Earlier, the research organization had stated that the indigenously-developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) Astra has been developed by DRDO, and will be integrated on Su-30MKI and other air platforms. Modifications of the Su-30MKI jets in order to accommodate Astra missiles were done by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). As many as 50 private as well as public sector industries have been engaged in the development and production of Astra missile.
(BVRAAM) Astra has been developed by DRDO, and will be integrated on Su-30MKI and other air platforms. Modifications of the Su-30MKI jets in order to accommodate Astra missiles were done by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). As many as 50 private as well as public sector industries have been engaged in the development and production of Astra missile.
Meanwhile, the IAF is in the process of integrating the Astra with its Dassault Mirage 2000, Mikoyan-Gurevic MiG-29 fighters, and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. As per DRDO, Astra’s maximum range is 110 km and the organization plans to develop a 300-km range version.
